Mounting assembly for vehicle shift mechanism and method

ABSTRACT

A method of mounting a shifter to a vehicle steering column is provided. The method includes operatively coupling a shifter and an attachment bracket to a moveable portion of a steering column at a first coupling position located on a first side of a column clamping structure of a stationary portion of the steering column. The method also includes operatively coupling the shifter and the attachment bracket to the moveable portion of the steering column at a second coupling position located on a second side of the column clamping structure within a stationary portion aperture defined by the stationary portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a divisional application of, and claimspriority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/626,108, filed on Feb.19, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to steering column mountedtransmission shifters and, more particularly, to a mounting assembly fora vehicle shift mechanism, as well as a method of mounting the shiftmechanism in a decoupled manner.

Internally collapsing steering column designs that are cantilever innature generally have low stiffness and poor natural frequency. If theapplication requires a column mounted shift system, the location of theshifter poses challenges.

If the shifter is mounted forward in the vehicle on a stationarystructure portion of the steering column, the shift lever requires asevere off-set and/or the shift mechanism is cantilevered rearward(towards the driver) which creates a moment and high stress on theattachment. Conversely, mounting the shifter rearward in the vehicle onthe upper-head telescoping portion of the steering column createsadditional requirements for collapse of the steering column, NVH andanti-rotation reaction loads from the shift lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of mountinga shifter to a vehicle steering column is provided. The method includesoperatively coupling a shifter and an attachment bracket to a moveableportion of a steering column at a first coupling position located on afirst side of a column clamping structure of a stationary portion of thesteering column. The method also includes operatively coupling theshifter and the attachment bracket to the moveable portion of thesteering column at a second coupling position located on a second sideof the column clamping structure within a stationary portion aperturedefined by the stationary portion.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, disassembled view of a mounting assembly formounting a vehicle shifter mechanism to a steering column;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an attachment bracket of the mountingassembly coupled to the steering column;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a moveable portion and a stationaryportion of the steering column in a first assembly condition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the moveable portion and the stationaryportion in a second assembly condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the moveable portion and the stationaryportion in a third assembly condition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the moveable portion and the stationaryportion in a fourth assembly condition; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the moveable portion and the stationaryportion in the fourth assembly condition of FIG. 6 according to anotheraspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, where the invention will be described withreference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, a mountingassembly for mounting a vehicle shifter mechanism to a steering columnis disclosed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shifter mechanism is generally shown at10. The shifter mechanism 10 is for a vehicle having a transmission. Asshown, the shifter mechanism 10 is mounted to the vehicle at a steeringcolumn 12 and is connected to the transmission as is known in the art.The shifter mechanism 10 operates the transmission by changing drivegears of the transmission.

The steering column 12 includes a stationary portion 14 and a moveableportion 16. The moveable portion 16 is in telescoping engagement withthe stationary portion 14. The telescoping relationship between themoveable portion 16 and the stationary portion 14 advantageously allowsa user to adjust a steering wheel (not shown) of a vehicle in atranslatable manner to a desirable position. Additionally, thetelescoping relationship facilitates a collapsible function of thesteering column 12 in the event of an energy absorption event, such asimpact by the user with the steering wheel.

As will be appreciated from the description herein, the shiftermechanism 10 is operatively coupled to the moveable portion 16 of thesteering column 12 at locations fore and aft of a clamping structure ofthe stationary portion 14 to stabilize reaction forces duringtelescoping movement of the steering column 12 to reduce the effect onNVH. Additionally, such a coupling avoids a cantilevered disposition ofthe shifter mechanism 10, thereby reducing excessive moments, while alsoaccommodating the collapsibility requirements of the steering column 12.

An attachment bracket or bridge bracket 20 is provided to facilitatemounting of the shifter mechanism 10 to the steering column 12. Morespecifically, the shifter mechanism 10 is operatively coupled to themoveable portion 16 of the steering column 12 due to direct coupling ofthe attachment bracket 20 to the moveable portion 16. The attachmentbracket 20 extends from a first end region 22 to a second end region 24.Proximate the first end region 22 is at least one aperture 26 defined bythe attachment bracket 20. As shown, it is contemplated that a pluralityof apertures 26 in the first end region 22 are included. The aperture(s)26 is sized to receive a mechanical fastener 28 or the like therein fordirectly coupling the attachment bracket 20 to the moveable portion 16of the steering column 12. Although described and illustrated as beingcoupled at the first end region 22, it is contemplated that coupling ismade at a more intermediate position of the attachment bracket 20.Regardless of the precise position, this coupling is referred to hereinas a first coupling position. A second coupling position will bedescribed below.

The stationary portion 14 of the steering column 12 is configured tointeract with the moveable portion 16 in a telescoping manner, asdescribed above to account for adjustment of the steering column 12 by auser or to allow for collapse of the steering column in a safety event.To at least partially retain the moveable portion 16 relative to thestationary portion 14, the stationary portion includes a column clampingstructure 30 that surrounds at least a portion of the moveable portion16. The column clamping structure 30 includes a first side 32 and asecond side 34.

The stationary portion 14 defines a stationary portion aperture 36 thatextends from the second side 34 of the column clamping structure 30 in alongitudinal direction 38 of the stationary portion 14. The moveableportion 16 is configured to extend sufficiently into the stationaryportion 14 in the longitudinal direction 38 to extend past the secondside 34 of the column clamping structure 30 to be in a side-by-sidearrangement with the stationary portion aperture 36.

The aforementioned second coupling position is located within thestationary portion aperture 36. In other words, the attachment bracket20 is directly coupled to the moveable portion 16 of the steering column12 at a location on the second side 34 of the column clamping structure30. Similar to the first coupling position, the attachment bracketdefines at least one aperture 40 configured to receive a mechanicalfastener 42 therethrough for coupling to the moveable portion 16. Themechanical fastener 42 extends through the stationary portion aperture36 and movement of the attachment bracket 20 is bounded by the wallsthat define the stationary portion aperture 36.

The coupling arrangement of the attachment bracket 20 and the steeringcolumn 12 facilitates translation of the attachment bracket 20 thatcorresponds to translation of the moveable portion 16 to which it isdirectly coupled. The coupled attachment bracket serves as anintermediate coupling member for the shifter mechanism 10. Inparticular, the shifter mechanism 10 is directly coupled to theattachment bracket 20 and indirectly coupled to the moveable portion 16of the steering column 12 via mechanical fasteners 44 that extendthrough additional apertures 48 defined by the attachment bracket 20.This arrangement advantageously decouples the shifter mechanism 10 fromthe steering column 12 to isolate the shifter mechanism 10 from forcesassociated with the telescoping operation of the steering column 12.Additionally, as noted above, the operative coupling positions (i.e.,first and second coupling positions) are on separate sides of the columnclamping structure 30, thereby stabilizing the reaction forcesassociated with the telescoping operation of the steering column 12.

The coupling of the attachment bracket 20 to the moveable portion 16 ofthe steering column 12 will be described in greater detail.Specifically, while it is contemplated that the mechanical fasteners 28,42 are inserted directly into the moveable portion 16, in someembodiments the moveable portion 16 includes coupling elements 50 thatare disposed on an outer surface of the moveable portion 16. Anyelement, in combination with the mechanical fasteners 28, 42, configuredto rigidly fix the attachment bracket 20 to the moveable portion 16 iscontemplated. In one embodiment, the mechanical fasteners 28, 42 arethreaded members and the coupling elements 50 are nuts that are weldedto the moveable portion 16. Irrespective of the precise couplingelements and fasteners employed to couple the attachment bracket 20 tothe moveable portion 16, it is to be appreciated that the attachment issuitable for repeated removal of the attachment bracket 20 for serviceor replacement. Similarly, the shifter mechanism 10 is attached to theattachment bracket 20 in a manner that facilitates repeated removal forservice or replacement.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the moveable portion 16 and the stationaryportion 14 are illustrated at various stages of assembly. As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the stationary portion 14 defines an axial slot 52 extendingfrom a first end 54 of the stationary portion 14 in the longitudinaldirection 38 of the stationary portion 14. A circumferential slot 56 isdefined by the stationary portion 14 at an axial location of the axialslot 52 that is located on the second side 34 of the column clampingstructure 30. The circumferential slot 56 extends between the axial slot52 and the stationary portion aperture 36.

The axial slot 52 and the circumferential slot 56 are dimensioned toallow the coupling element 50 secured to the moveable portion 16 totranslate through each of the slots 52, 56. Initially, an assemblyoperator aligns the coupling element 50 with the axial slot 52 prior toinsertion of the moveable portion 16 into the stationary portion 14(FIG. 3). As the moveable portion 16 is translated into telescopingengagement with the stationary portion 14, the coupling element 50translates through and along the axial slot 52 (FIG. 4). The axial slot52 guides the coupling element 50 toward the circumferential slot 56.Upon reaching the axial location of the circumferential slot 56, themoveable portion 16 and the stationary portion 14 are rotated relativeto each other to translate the coupling element 50 through and along thecircumferential slot 56 (FIG. 5). The axial position of thecircumferential slot 56 is on the second side 34 of the column clampingstructure 30. Upon sufficient rotation, the coupling element 50 ispositioned within the stationary portion aperture 36 (FIG. 6). FIG. 7illustrates an opposing side of the steering column in a stage ofassembly that corresponds to the stage shown in FIG. 6. This viewillustrates an anti-rotation locking device 58 that is mounted to themoveable portion 16 once the moveable portion 16 is rotated to theposition shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The anti-rotation locking device 58 ispositioned within a radial locking slot 60 defined by the stationaryportion 14. The anti-rotation locking device 58 may be mounted to themoveable portion 16 in any suitable manner, including insertion of amechanical fastener 62 through the anti-rotation locking device 58 andinto fixed engagement with the moveable portion 16.

As described above, the coupling element 50 is disposed and retainedwithin the circumferential slot 56 during assembly. The coupling element50, when assembled in the slot 56, provides redundant retention whichwill prevent the moveable portion 16 from separating from the stationaryportion 14 if an excessive force is applied to the moveable portion 16in the direction 38 along a longitudinal axis A (FIG. 6) of the steeringcolumn 12. The walled portion defining the circumferential slot retainsthe coupling element 50, and therefore the moveable portion 16, to thestationary portion 14.

Advantageously, each of the embodiments described above provides adecoupled relationship between the shifter mechanism 10 and the steeringcolumn 12. Additionally, the coupling interface between the attachmentbracket 20 and the steering column 12 is located on both sides (i.e.,fore and aft) of the column clamping structure 30 to enhance thestiffness of the system, while also accommodating the telescopingrequirements of the steering column 12.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A method ofmounting a shifter to a vehicle steering column comprising: operativelycoupling a shifter and an attachment bracket to a moveable portion of asteering column at a first coupling position located on a first side ofa column clamping structure of a stationary portion of the steeringcolumn; and operatively coupling the shifter and the attachment bracketto the moveable portion of the steering column at a second couplingposition located on a second side of the column clamping structurewithin a stationary portion aperture defined by the stationary portion.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: aligning a couplingelement disposed on the moveable portion of the steering column with anaxial slot defined by the stationary portion; translating the couplingelement through the axial slot to an axial position on the second sideof the column clamping structure; and rotating the moveable portionrelative to the stationary portion to rotate the coupling elementthrough a circumferential slot defined by the stationary portion intothe stationary portion aperture.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thecoupling element comprises a nut welded to the moveable portion of thesteering column, the method further comprising extending a threadedmechanical fastener through the attachment bracket and the nut tooperatively couple the attachment bracket to the moveable portion of thesteering column.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising repeatedlyremoving the shifter from the attachment bracket for service.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising repeatedly removing the attachmentbracket from the moveable portion for service by removing the mechanicalfastener.
 6. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing aretaining force between the moveable portion and the stationary portionupon disposition of the coupling element within the circumferential slotto resist separation of the moveable portion from the stationary portionin response to a force applied in a longitudinal direction of thesteering column.